diff --git a/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/core/tools/ar6x.lua b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/core/tools/ar6x.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..821b955e3b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/core/tools/ar6x.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+--!A cross-platform build utility based on Lua
+--
+-- Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+-- you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+-- You may obtain a copy of the License at
+--
+--     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+--
+-- Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+-- distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+-- WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+-- See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+-- limitations under the License.
+--
+-- Copyright (C) 2015-present, TBOOX Open Source Group.
+--
+-- @author      ruki
+-- @file        ar6x.lua
+--
+
+inherit("core.tools.ar")
+
+-- init it
+function init(self)
+    self:set("arflags", "-r")
+end
+
diff --git a/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/core/tools/cl6x.lua b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/core/tools/cl6x.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f350808da8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/core/tools/cl6x.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+--!A cross-platform build utility based on Lua
+--
+-- Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+-- you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+-- You may obtain a copy of the License at
+--
+--     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+--
+-- Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+-- distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+-- WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+-- See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+-- limitations under the License.
+--
+-- Copyright (C) 2015-present, TBOOX Open Source Group.
+--
+-- @author      ruki
+-- @file        cl6x.lua
+--
+
+-- imports
+import("core.base.option")
+import("core.base.global")
+import("core.project.policy")
+import("core.language.language")
+import("utils.progress")
+
+-- init it
+function init(self)
+end
+
+-- make the symbol flag
+function nf_symbol(self, level)
+    -- only for source kind
+    local kind = self:kind()
+    if language.sourcekinds()[kind] then
+        local maps = _g.symbol_maps
+        if not maps then
+            maps =
+            {
+                debug  = "-g"
+            }
+            _g.symbol_maps = maps
+        end
+        return maps[level .. '_' .. kind] or maps[level]
+    end
+end
+
+-- make the optimize flag
+function nf_optimize(self, level)
+    local maps =
+    {
+        none       = "-O0"
+    ,   fast       = "-O1"
+    ,   faster     = "-O2"
+    ,   fastest    = "-O3"
+    ,   smallest   = "-m3"
+    ,   aggressive = "-O3"
+    }
+    return maps[level]
+end
+
+-- make the define flag
+function nf_define(self, macro)
+    return "-D" .. macro
+end
+
+-- make the undefine flag
+function nf_undefine(self, macro)
+    return "-U" .. macro
+end
+
+-- make the includedir flag
+function nf_includedir(self, dir)
+    return {"-I" .. dir}
+end
+
+-- make the sysincludedir flag
+function nf_sysincludedir(self, dir)
+    return nf_includedir(self, dir)
+end
+
+-- make the link flag
+function nf_link(self, lib)
+    if not lib:endswith(".a") and not lib:endswith(".so") then
+         lib = "lib" .. lib .. ".a"
+    end
+    return "-l" .. lib
+end
+
+-- make the syslink flag
+function nf_syslink(self, lib)
+    return nf_link(self, lib)
+end
+
+-- make the linkdir flag
+function nf_linkdir(self, dir)
+    return {"-i" .. path.translate(dir)}
+end
+
+-- make the rpathdir flag
+function nf_rpathdir(self, dir, opt)
+    opt = opt or {}
+    local extra = opt.extra
+    if extra and extra.installonly then
+        return
+    end
+    dir = path.translate(dir)
+    return {"-rpath=" .. dir}
+end
+
+-- make the link arguments list
+function linkargv(self, objectfiles, targetkind, targetfile, flags, opt)
+    local argv = table.join("-z", "--output_file=" .. targetfile, objectfiles, flags)
+    return self:program(), argv
+end
+
+-- link the target file
+--
+-- maybe we need to use os.vrunv() to show link output when enable verbose information
+-- @see https://github.com/xmake-io/xmake/discussions/2916
+--
+function link(self, objectfiles, targetkind, targetfile, flags, opt)
+    opt = opt or {}
+    os.mkdir(path.directory(targetfile))
+    local program, argv = linkargv(self, objectfiles, targetkind, targetfile, flags)
+    if option.get("verbose") then
+        os.execv(program, argv, {envs = self:runenvs(), shell = opt.shell})
+    else
+        os.vrunv(program, argv, {envs = self:runenvs(), shell = opt.shell})
+    end
+end
+
+-- make the compile arguments list
+function compargv(self, sourcefile, objectfile, flags)
+    return self:program(), table.join("-c", "--preproc_with_compile", flags, "--output_file=" .. objectfile, sourcefile)
+end
+
+-- compile the source file
+function compile(self, sourcefile, objectfile, dependinfo, flags, opt)
+    os.mkdir(path.directory(objectfile))
+    local depfile = dependinfo and os.tmpfile() or nil
+    try
+    {
+        function ()
+            local compflags = flags
+            if depfile then
+                compflags = table.join(compflags, "-ppd=" .. depfile)
+            end
+            local outdata, errdata = os.iorunv(compargv(self, sourcefile, objectfile, compflags))
+            return (outdata or "") .. (errdata or "")
+        end,
+        catch
+        {
+            function (errors)
+
+                -- try removing the old object file for forcing to rebuild this source file
+                os.tryrm(objectfile)
+
+                -- find the start line of error
+                local lines = tostring(errors):split("\n")
+                local start = 0
+                for index, line in ipairs(lines) do
+                    if line:find("error:", 1, true) or line:find("错误：", 1, true) then
+                        start = index
+                        break
+                    end
+                end
+
+                -- get 16 lines of errors
+                if start > 0 or not option.get("verbose") then
+                    if start == 0 then start = 1 end
+                    errors = table.concat(table.slice(lines, start, start + ((#lines - start > 16) and 16 or (#lines - start))), "\n")
+                end
+
+                -- raise compiling errors
+                raise(errors)
+            end
+        },
+        finally
+        {
+            function (ok, warnings)
+
+                -- print some warnings
+                if warnings and #warnings > 0 and policy.build_warnings(opt) then
+                    if progress.showing_without_scroll() then
+                        print("")
+                    end
+                    cprint("${color.warning}%s", table.concat(table.slice(warnings:split('\n'), 1, 8), '\n'))
+                end
+
+                -- generate the dependent includes
+                if depfile and os.isfile(depfile) then
+                    if dependinfo then
+                        dependinfo.depfiles_format = "cl6x"
+                        dependinfo.depfiles = io.readfile(depfile, {continuation = "\\"})
+                    end
+
+                    -- remove the temporary dependent file
+                    os.tryrm(depfile)
+                end
+            end
+        }
+    }
+end
+
+
diff --git a/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/cl6x/has_flags.lua b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/cl6x/has_flags.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d18d9b23375
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/cl6x/has_flags.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+--!A cross-platform build utility based on Lua
+--
+-- Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+-- you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+-- You may obtain a copy of the License at
+--
+--     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+--
+-- Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+-- distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+-- WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+-- See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+-- limitations under the License.
+--
+-- Copyright (C) 2015-present, TBOOX Open Source Group.
+--
+-- @author      ruki
+-- @file        has_flags.lua
+--
+
+-- imports
+import("core.cache.detectcache")
+import("core.language.language")
+
+-- is linker?
+function _islinker(flags, opt)
+    local toolkind = opt.toolkind or ""
+    return toolkind == "ld" or toolkind == "sh" or toolkind:endswith("ld") or toolkind:endswith("sh")
+end
+
+-- try running
+function _try_running(program, argv, opt)
+    local errors = nil
+    return try { function () os.runv(program, argv, opt); return true end, catch { function (errs) errors = (errs or ""):trim() end }}, errors
+end
+
+-- attempt to check it from known flags
+function _check_from_knownargs(flags, opt, islinker)
+    local flag = flags[1]
+    if not islinker then
+        if flag:startswith("-D") or
+           flag:startswith("-U") or
+           flag:startswith("-I") then
+            return true
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+-- attempt to check it from the argument list
+function _check_from_arglist(flags, opt, islinker)
+    local key = "detect.tools.cl6x." .. (islinker and "has_ldflags" or "has_cflags")
+    local flagskey = opt.program .. "_" .. (opt.programver or "")
+    local allflags = detectcache:get2(key, flagskey)
+    if not allflags then
+        allflags = {}
+        local arglist = try {function () return os.iorunv(opt.program, {"--help"}, {envs = opt.envs}) end}
+        if arglist then
+            for arg in arglist:gmatch("%s+(%-[%-%a%d]+)%s+") do
+                allflags[arg] = true
+            end
+        end
+        detectcache:set2(key, flagskey, allflags)
+        detectcache:save()
+    end
+    local flag = flags[1]
+    return allflags[flag]
+end
+
+-- get extension
+function _get_extension(opt)
+    -- @note we need to detect extension for ndk/clang++.exe: warning: treating 'c' input as 'c++' when in C++ mode, this behavior is deprecated [-Wdeprecated]
+    return (opt.program:endswith("++") or opt.flagkind == "cxxflags") and ".cpp" or (table.wrap(language.sourcekinds()[opt.toolkind or "cc"])[1] or ".c")
+end
+
+-- try running to check flags
+function _check_try_running(flags, opt, islinker)
+
+    -- make an stub source file
+    local snippet = opt.snippet or "int main(int argc, char** argv)\n{return 0;}\n"
+    local sourcefile = os.tmpfile("cl6x_has_flags:" .. snippet) .. _get_extension(opt)
+    if not os.isfile(sourcefile) then
+        io.writefile(sourcefile, snippet)
+    end
+
+    -- check flags for linker
+    local tmpfile = os.tmpfile()
+    if islinker then
+        return _try_running(opt.program, table.join(flags, "-z", "--output_file=" .. tmpfile, sourcefile), opt)
+    end
+
+    -- check flags for compiler
+    -- @note we cannot use os.nuldev() as the output file, maybe run failed for some flags, e.g. --coverage
+    return _try_running(opt.program, table.join(flags, "-c", "--output_file=" .. tmpfile, sourcefile), opt)
+end
+
+-- has_flags(flags)?
+--
+-- @param opt   the argument options, e.g. {toolname = "", program = "", programver = "", toolkind = "[cc|cxx|ld|ar|sh|gc|mm|mxx]"}
+--
+-- @return      true or false
+--
+function main(flags, opt)
+
+    -- is linker?
+    opt = opt or {}
+    local islinker = _islinker(flags, opt)
+
+    -- attempt to check it from the argument list
+    if not opt.tryrun then
+        if _check_from_arglist(flags, opt, islinker) then
+            return true
+        end
+        if _check_from_knownargs(flags, opt, islinker) then
+            return true
+        end
+    end
+
+    -- try running to check it
+    return _check_try_running(flags, opt, islinker)
+end
+
diff --git a/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/find_ar6x.lua b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/find_ar6x.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..823a1f2200a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/find_ar6x.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+--!A cross-platform build utility based on Lua
+--
+-- Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+-- you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+-- You may obtain a copy of the License at
+--
+--     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+--
+-- Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+-- distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+-- WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+-- See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+-- limitations under the License.
+--
+-- Copyright (C) 2015-present, TBOOX Open Source Group.
+--
+-- @author      ruki
+-- @file        find_ar6x.lua
+--
+
+-- imports
+import("lib.detect.find_program")
+
+-- check
+function _check(program)
+
+    -- make a stub object file
+    local libraryfile = os.tmpfile() .. ".a"
+    local objectfile  = os.tmpfile() .. ".o"
+    io.writefile(objectfile, "")
+
+    -- archive it
+    os.execv(program, {"-r", libraryfile, objectfile})
+
+    -- remove files
+    os.rm(objectfile)
+    os.rm(libraryfile)
+end
+
+-- find ar
+--
+-- @param opt   the argument options, e.g. {version = true}
+--
+-- @return      program, version
+--
+-- @code
+--
+-- local ar = find_ar6x()
+-- local ar, version = find_ar6x({program = "xcrun -sdk macosx g++", version = true})
+--
+-- @endcode
+--
+function main(opt)
+    opt       = opt or {}
+    opt.check = opt.check or _check
+    return find_program(opt.program or "ar6x", opt)
+end
+
diff --git a/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/find_cl6x.lua b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/find_cl6x.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c961326ad33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/toolchains/modules/detect/tools/find_cl6x.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+--!A cross-platform build utility based on Lua
+--
+-- Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+-- you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+-- You may obtain a copy of the License at
+--
+--     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+--
+-- Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+-- distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+-- WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+-- See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+-- limitations under the License.
+--
+-- Copyright (C) 2015-present, TBOOX Open Source Group.
+--
+-- @author      ruki
+-- @file        find_cl6x.lua
+--
+
+-- imports
+import("lib.detect.find_program")
+import("lib.detect.find_programver")
+
+-- find cl6x
+--
+-- @param opt   the argument options, e.g. {version = true}
+--
+-- @return      program, version
+--
+-- @code
+--
+-- local cl6x = find_cl6x()
+-- local cl6x, version = find_cl6x({program = "cl6x", version = true})
+--
+-- @endcode
+--
+function main(opt)
+    opt = opt or {}
+    opt.check = "--help"
+    opt.command = "--help"
+    local program = find_program(opt.program or "cl6x", opt)
+    local version = nil
+    if program and opt.version then
+        version = find_programver(program, opt)
+    end
+    return program, version
+end
diff --git a/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/xmake.lua b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/xmake.lua
index dc15f1a055c..dc772417b05 100644
--- a/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/xmake.lua
+++ b/tests/apis/custom_toolchain/xmake.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 add_rules("mode.debug", "mode.release")
 
+add_moduledirs("toolchains/modules")
+includes("toolchains/my-c6000")
+
 set_toolchains("my-c6000")
-add_toolchaindirs("toolchains")
 
 target("test")
     set_kind("static")
diff --git a/xmake/core/project/project.lua b/xmake/core/project/project.lua
index 7b42d47eafb..20b0a171b3d 100644
--- a/xmake/core/project/project.lua
+++ b/xmake/core/project/project.lua
@@ -202,17 +202,6 @@ function project._api_add_platformdirs(interp, ...)
     end
 end
 
--- add toolchain directories
-function project._api_add_toolchaindirs(interp, ...)
-    local scriptdir = project.interpreter():scriptdir()
-    for _, dir in ipairs({...}) do
-        if not path.is_absolute(dir) then
-            dir = path.absolute(dir, scriptdir)
-        end
-        toolchain.add_directories(dir)
-    end
-end
-
 -- load the project file
 function project._load(force, disable_filter)
 
@@ -669,7 +658,6 @@ function project.apis()
         ,   {"add_moduledirs",          project._api_add_moduledirs    }
         ,   {"add_plugindirs",          project._api_add_plugindirs    }
         ,   {"add_platformdirs",        project._api_add_platformdirs  }
-        ,   {"add_toolchaindirs",       project._api_add_toolchaindirs }
         }
     }
 end
diff --git a/xmake/core/sandbox/modules/import/core/tool/toolchain.lua b/xmake/core/sandbox/modules/import/core/tool/toolchain.lua
index 48867300ec1..46bd9fb1d4b 100644
--- a/xmake/core/sandbox/modules/import/core/tool/toolchain.lua
+++ b/xmake/core/sandbox/modules/import/core/tool/toolchain.lua
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ local project   = require("project/project")
 local raise     = require("sandbox/modules/raise")
 
 -- inherit some builtin interfaces
-sandbox_core_tool_toolchain.apis        = toolchain.apis
-sandbox_core_tool_toolchain.directories = toolchain.directories
+sandbox_core_tool_toolchain.apis = toolchain.apis
 
 -- get all toolchains list
 function sandbox_core_tool_toolchain.list()
diff --git a/xmake/core/tool/toolchain.lua b/xmake/core/tool/toolchain.lua
index 1085df1984f..a19413d345e 100644
--- a/xmake/core/tool/toolchain.lua
+++ b/xmake/core/tool/toolchain.lua
@@ -640,15 +640,6 @@ function toolchain.directories()
     return dirs
 end
 
--- add toolchain directories
-function toolchain.add_directories(...)
-    local dirs = toolchain.directories()
-    for _, dir in ipairs({...}) do
-        table.insert(dirs, 1, dir)
-    end
-    toolchain._DIRS = table.unique(dirs)
-end
-
 -- load toolchain
 function toolchain.load(name, opt)
 
diff --git a/xmake/modules/lib/detect/find_tool.lua b/xmake/modules/lib/detect/find_tool.lua
index 8b5892483f4..fa2b7b3bbef 100644
--- a/xmake/modules/lib/detect/find_tool.lua
+++ b/xmake/modules/lib/detect/find_tool.lua
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ import("core.tool.toolchain")
 
 -- find tool from modules
 function _find_from_modules(name, opt)
-    -- TODO
-    print(toolchain.directories())
-
     local find_tool = import("detect.tools.find_" .. name, {try = true})
     if find_tool then
         local program, version, toolname = find_tool(opt)